Dehydrator having rotatable electrode



' June 19, 1928. 1,674,242

w. O. EDDY DEHYDRATOR HAVING ROTATABLE ELECTRODE NOV. 29,

5f ,5.17 F' .z

WMU/JM O. 00V,

HTTORNEK 2o wise Patented June 19, 1928K.

STATES WILLIAM O. EDDY, F LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO PETRJOLEUMvRECTI--f' FYING COMPANY 0F CALIFORNIA, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION 0F CALIFORNIA.

DEHYDRATOR HAVING Application led November This invention relates to electrical apparatus for deliydiating petroleum emulsions.

In the art it is coninion practice to dehydrate petroleum emulsions containing small Water particles which will not gravitate therefrom, by means of an apparatus consisting of a pair of electrodes placed in a tank, between which electrodes an electric field is established. The petroleum einulsion is passed through t e ,electric field and the electric field agglomeratesthe water particles into masses of water which are of suiicient size to precipitate from the oil:

It is an object of this invention to provide a dehydi'ator in which the emulsion agitated in the treating space while it is subjected to the action of the electric field.

This is an important object of the invention by reason of the fact that emulsions otherdifficult to dehydrate are readily dehydrated if agitated while under the influence of the electric field.

In the ordinary dehydrator there is a tendency for the water particles to chain up between the electrodes and form short-circuiting paths which reduce the strength of the electric field `and consequently reduce its treating efficacy.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a dehydrator in which water particles cannot chain up between the electrodes. y

A still further object of the invention is to provide a dehydrator having a revolving electrode.

A still further object'of my invention is to provide a deliydrator having a number of concentric treating spaces.

Other significantvobjects and advantages of the inventionwill be made-evident hereinafter.

My invention is best understood with reference to the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a bearing of the invention taken on the line 3-3 of 5o Fi 1.

F ig. 4 is a fragmentary section of a nozzle of the invention.

Referrin in detail to the drawing, I show-a ta 1l having a tight top l2 and ROTATABLE ELECTRODE.

29, 1926. Serial No. 151,419.

a tight conical bottom 13. Connected to the lower pai't of the conical bottom 13 is a water take-off pipe 14 having a valve 15. The tight top 12 is provided with a dome 16 to which a dry oil take-off pipe 17 is connected.

Supported in the upper part of the tank 11 is an insulator 18 to which a rod 19 is connected. Supported at the lower end of the rod 19 is a primary or live electrode 21. The live electrode 21 is preferably formed from a coarse screen mesh, as shown, and consists of an upper conical Wall 22 and' concentric cylindrical walls 23 which `are arranged on a vertical axis.

Extended into the tank 11 from the lower end thereof is an emulsion inlet pipe 25 having a vertical leg 26. Supported at the upper end of the vertical le 2 6 is a bearing 27. The bearin 27, as ilustrated best in Fig. 3, consists o a body 28, to the lower end of which the vertical leg 26 is threadedly secured, as indicated at 29. .Supported byl` the body 28 is a rotatable spindle 30. he spindle 30 has a vertical tube 31 which extends into an o ening 32 of the body 28. The lower part o the opening 32 is provided in the form of a bearing 33 in which the lower end of the tube 31 is journaled. The Aupper part of the spindle 30 is provided with a head 35 which rests above an upper enlargement 36 of the body 28. "Placed between the head and the enlargement are bearing balls 37 which rotatably support the spindle 30. The head 35 is provided with crossing openings 38 which connect to a vertical passage 39 formed through the tube 31. The lower end of the passage 39 connects to the passage in the vertical leg 26. Threadedly secured in outer ends 40 of the 'crossing openings 38 are arms 41 which are formed from pipe.

Supported by the arms 41 is a secondary or grounded electrode generallyindicated by the numeral 42. This grounded electrode 42'consists of concentric cylinders 43 which are arranged on the same laxis as the cylinders 23 of the live electrode 21. The cylinders 23 and 43 are alternately arranged so that treating spaces 45 are provided between each pair of live and grounded cylinlers 23 and 43. Carried by the arms 4 1 are nozzles 46. The nozzles 46 are arranged in pairs which are adapted to introduce pesov ` so that the emulsion is directed upward.

Referring to Fig. 1, I diagrammatically illustrate a transformer 49 havmg a secondary 50. One side of the secondary 50 is conl through' the top nected to the tank 11 by means of a wire 51. The other side of the secondary 50 is connected by means cfa conductor52 to the rod 19 which supports the live electrode 21. This conductor 52 is extended through an insulator inlet bushing 54 which is extended 12 of `the tank 11.- The grounded electrode 42 is connected to the tank 11 and is grounded, whereas the live electrode 21 is insulated from the tank but is connected to the secondary 50 of the transformer 49.

The operation of the inventionr is as follows:

Emulsion `to beidehydrated is supplied. to the dehydrator by means of the pipe 25. The emulsion passes through the vertical leg 26, the bearing 27, and the arms 41. The emulsion is inected into the treating spaces b means o the nozzles 46. The reaction of t e issuance of the emulsion causes the effective when the emulsion is agitated.

arms and the spindle 30 to rotate. The grounded electrode 42 being supported by the arms 41 is also rotated. The rotation is produced by the same principle which causes the ordinary reaction wheel to rotate. The emulsion, as previously mentioned7 is directed upward into the treating spaces 45 and the streamsv cause the emulsion already present in the treating spaces to be agitated. An electric field is setup in each of the treating spaces 45 at this time, the transformer 49 being energized.

As previously mentioned, the action of the electric field on the emulsion is mo:r[e t is .believed that emulsion is better treated when it isv agitated, on the theory that emulsion will deform under the same conditions that it forms. Releasing the emulsion through the nozzles produces a churning or beating action which isbelieved to be similar to the action which forms the emulsion.`

By agitating the emulsion in thisv manner a"nascent condition is effected which assists the electric field inasmuch as it renders the water particles easily coalescible by the electric field.

It is quite impossible for water to form in4 short-circuiting chains between the electrodes by reason of the fact that the grounded electrode is rotated and therefore any chaining action is precluded in itsl initiation. The electrodes are so formed that the treated oil may readily move upward in the tank 11 and the water particles may readily drop to the bottom of the tank. The lower end of the grounded electrode 42 is entirelyopen whereas the live electrode is formed from a screen mesh having large interstices through which the oil may pass.

I claim as my lnvention:

1. In a dehydrator for emulsions, the combination of: a primary stationary electrode having a series of concentric cylinders; a secondary kmovable electrode having cylinders extended into the spaces between said cylinders of said stationary electrode; a tank surrounding said electrodes; means for impressing an electromotive force between said electrodes; a reaction device rotatably supported in said tank, said reaction device having nozzles directed so that fluid electrodes, said rotatable electrode being supported by said reaction device; means `for supplying emulsion to said reaction device; and means for withdrawing fluids from said tank.

2..,A combination as 'defined in' claim l in which one of said electrodes is a screen mesh electrode. f

3. A combination as delined in claim 1 in which said primary electrode is a screen Y mesh electrode.

4. In a dehydrator for emulsions,fthe combination of: a primary stationary electrode having a series of concentric cylinders; a secondary movable electrode having cylinders extended into the spaces between said cylinders of said stationary electrode; a tank surrounding said electrodes;- means for impressing an electromotive force between said electrodes; a reaction device rotatably supported in said tank, said reaction device having radial arms and nozzles supported by said arms, said nozzles being directed so that iuid emitted therefrom rotates said reaction device and passes into the spaces between said electrodes, said rotatable electrode being supported by said reaction de` vice; means for supplying emulsion to said' reaction device; and means for withdrawing lfluids from said tank. y

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 22nd day of November, 1926.

' WILLIAM O. EDDY. 

